An Iain Vigurs hat-trick boosted Caley Thistle’s hopes of progressing to the knock-out stages of the Betfred Cup with a 5-1 victory against Dunfermline Athletic in a highly entertaining match at East End Park last night.
It was a perfect hat-trick from Vigurs, who netted with his right foot then his left before completing his treble with a header.
The midfielder showed great awareness to break the deadlock by taking advantage of a poor clearance from Dunfermline goalkeeper David Hutton but Pars captain Andy Geggan headed home an equaliser soon after.
However Vigurs curled home a sumptuous free kick three minutes before the break to restore Caley Thistle’s lead before Billy King enhanced the advantage nine minutes into the second period.
Vigurs completed his hat-trick in the 66th minute by heading home a King cross as Inverness strolled to a comfortable victory before Carl Tremarco nodded in a fifth in the dying embers.
The result means Caley Thistle are joint top of North Group C, level on seven points with Dundee United who take on Dunfermline this weekend, while Arbroath travel to the Caledonian Stadium for Inverness’ final fixture.
Caley Thistle went into this match determined to make amends after Saturday’s penalty shoot-out defeat against Dundee United had left them in third place in the Betfred Cup’s North Group C.
However Dunfermline had made a flawless start to the competition with successive 3-0 wins against Cowdenbeath and Arbroath.
This was a pivotal match for Richie Foran’s side with only the eight group winners and the four best runners-up making it through to the last 16 of the competition.
The Caley Thistle manager made one alteration to his team with Irishman Jake Mulraney stepping in for central midfielder Ross Draper, who dropped to the bench, while 19-year-old Cameron Mackay kept his place in goal with Welsh international Owain Fon Williams again listed as a substitute.
A strong-looking Pars line-up included former Ross County midfielder Joseph Cardle, ex-Kilmarnock attacker Kallum Higginbotham and Rhys McCabe, formerly of Sheffield Wednesday and Rangers.
It was a fast and frenetic start on the rain-soaked East End Park surface with two penalty appeals inside the opening five minutes.
Mulraney fell to ground under pressure from Jason Talbot before Cardle’s run into the penalty area at the other end was brought to an abrupt end by Caley Thistle captain Gary Warren.
Referee Crawford Allan opted against taking action on both occasions –with the Pars feeling the more aggrieved of the two parties.
The Pars had made the better start with goalkeeper Mackay soon called into action to claw away a fizzing strike from Cardle as the home pressure intensified.
Caley Thistle soon found their rhythm with Scott Boden presented with two opportunities in quick succession but the former Newport County forward’s finishing let him down.
However the visitors managed to break the deadlock after 16 minutes when Iain Vigurs capitalised on some calamitous Dunfermline defending.
Pars goalkeeper David Hutton made a mess of his clearance from a Ben Richards-Everton pass-back and Vigurs showed excellent composure to side-foot into the unguarded net from 35 yards.
The hosts had a second penalty appeal waved away 10 minutes later – this time for an apparent handball by Kevin McNaughton – but the home support didn’t have to wait much longer for an equaliser.
An exquisite cross from Higginbotham was powerfully headed home by Pars captain Andy Geggan and was probably no more than the home side deserved.
But Inverness regained the initiative three minutes before the break when Vigurs curled home a sublime free kick from the edge of the area with the ball kissing the crossbar on its way into the net beyond the despairing Hutton.
Caley Thistle continued to attack after the restart and were rewarded again in the 54th minute when on-loan Hearts midfielder King rounded off a superb team move by firing into the top corner with the aid of a deflection off Ryan Williamson.
Dunfermline had another penalty appeal dismissed when Carl Tremarco looked to have used a hand to block a Richards-Everton effort which enraged the Pars support and saw Cardle cautioned for his protestations.
Their mood worsened when Vigurs completed his hat-trick and ended any hopes of a Dunfermline comeback by heading home an inviting King cross after 66 minutes.
Tremarco completed the scoring a minute from time when he reacted quickest to nod home after a Greg Tansey free kick had struck the post to cap off an excellent night’s work for Foran’s men.
